Denise Welch Net Worth

What is Denise Welch's Net Worth?

Denise Welch is an English actress, television personality, and writer who has a net worth of $3 million. Denise Welch is known for her roles in such television series as "Soldier Soldier," "Coronation Street," "Waterloo Road," and "Hollyoaks." She is also a regular panelist on the ITV talk show "Loose Women" and is the winner of the ninth season of the reality game show "Celebrity Big Brother." Denise is also known for being the mother of Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975.

Early Life and Education

Denise Welch was born Jacqueline Denise Welch on May 22, 1958, in Tynemouth, England, into a family of confectioners. She has a younger sister named Debbie. Welch was educated at Bygate School in Whitley Bay, La Sagesse School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Blackfyne Grammar School in Consett. At the encouragement of her father and her drama teacher, she went on to train at Mountview Theatre School in London. Welch graduated in 1979 and subsequently taught dance at Watford Palace Theatre.

Television Acting

Welch made her screen-acting debut in 1982 with a guest role on the ITV children's show "Barriers." Later in the decade, she appeared in an episode of "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet." Welch's first substantial role in a series was in the BBC One teen drama "Byker Grove," in which she played the recurring role of Polly Bell from 1990 to 1991. She had an even bigger role in the BBC One police procedural series "Spender" from 1991 to 1993. Welch's breakout role, however, was as Marsha Stubbs in the ITV series "Soldier Soldier," a character she played from 1993 to 1995. She followed that with roles in "The Glass Virgin," "The Bill," and "See You Friday." Welch reached her widest audience yet when she began playing the main role of Natalie Barnes on the long-running ITV soap opera "Coronation Street" in 1997. She remained on the show until the end of 2000, appearing in over 480 episodes in total. Welch went on to appear in episodes of such series as "The Vice," "Breeze Block," "Holby City," "Where the Heart Is," "Born and Bred," and "Doctors." She had her next major role from 2004 to 2005, playing Jackie Murphy in the BBC One series "Down to Earth." After that, Welch guest-starred in the short-lived "Hollyoaks: In the City," a spinoff of the soap opera "Hollyoaks."

Welch began one of her biggest roles in 2006, playing French teacher Steph Haydock in the BBC One series "Waterloo Road." She played the role until 2010, and later returned to the show in 2026 after it was recommissioned. Following her first stint on "Waterloo Road," Welch guest-starred on "Benidorm" and "Casualty." In 2015, she had guest roles in episodes of "Doctors" and "Inspector George Gently" and began starring on the BBC Two sitcom "Boy Meets Girl," which ran through 2016. That year, Welch guest-starred as the estranged mother of transgender character Kyle Slater in an episode of the long-running soap opera "EastEnders." She also made another appearance on the soap opera "Doctors." At the beginning of the 2020s, Welch was in two episodes of the children's sketch comedy show "Class Dismissed." From 2021 to 2022, she played the regular role of Trish Minniver on the soap opera "Hollyoaks." Welch went on to play the recurring guest role of Heidi on the soap opera "Emmerdale" in late 2024.

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Other Television Appearances

In addition to her acting roles, Welch has appeared on various television shows as a host, panelist, and celebrity contestant. She had her first hosting gigs on "Soap Fever" and "The Real DIY Show" at the turn of the new millennium. During this time, Welch also began appearing on the ITV talk show "Loose Women," eventually becoming a regular panelist. In 2008, she competed in a celebrity version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?," and in 2009 she narrated the Channel 4 makeover show "10 Years Younger" and appeared in the BBC One documentary "Playing the Part."

Kicking off the 2010s, Welch competed alongside her husband on the ITV show "All Star Mr & Mrs," where they came in second place and donated their winnings to the charity Children North East. In 2011, Welch competed in the sixth season of ITV's "Dancing on Ice" with American professional ice skater Matt Evers. The pair was the seventh to be eliminated. The next year, Welch competed in the ninth season of the UK's "Celebrity Big Brother," which she ultimately won. She went on to compete on the quiz shows "The Chase" and "Tipping Point," the competitive dancing show "Stepping Out," and the game show "The Cube."

Theater Career

In 1983, Welch made her professional theater debut in "Yakkety-Yak" at the Astoria Theatre in London. The following year, she played Sandy in a production of "Grease" in Leicester. In 1985, Welch joined Newcastle's Live Theatre Company and appeared in the comedy "There's a Girl in My Soup." She was subsequently in Live Theatre's production of "Bedroom Farce." Welch didn't appear much on stage over the ensuing years. She became more prolific in the 21st century, starting with her role as the fairy in "Jack and the Beanstalk" at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle. Continuing with productions of fairytales, Welch played the Wicked Queen in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and the fairy in "Cinderella." In 2017, she played Mrs. Otter in "The Wind in the Willows" at the London Palladium, and from 2018 to 2019 she played Celia in the UK touring production of "Calendar Girls: The Musical."

Film Career

Welch made her debut on the big screen in the 2005 film "The Jealous God," based on the novel by John Braine. In 2009, she appeared in the Welsh comedy "A Bit of Tom Jones?" Welch's other film credits include the 2017 romantic comedy "Finding Fatimah" and the 2019 supernatural road trip drama "Burning Men."

Books

Welch published her first book, the memoir "Pulling Myself Together," in 2010. It explores her struggles with alcoholism and depression. She followed that with two more memoirs: "Starting Over" (2012) and "The Unwelcome Visitor" (2020). Welch also penned the novels "If They Could See Me Now" (2016) and "The Mother's Bond" (2018).

Personal Life

Welch married her first husband, actor David Easter, in 1983. They divorced in 1988. Welch subsequently wed actor Tim Healy, with whom she worked at Newcastle's Live Theatre Company. The couple had two sons, Matty and Louis, and divorced in 2012. Matty Healy is the lead singer of the pop rock band the 1975, and Louis is an actor. Welch wed her third husband, painter Lincoln Townley, in 2013. He also serves as her PR manager.

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